Yachtsman Seen Battling Gale

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30736, 28 April 1965, Page 22

Yachtsman Seen Battling Gale

(New Zealand Press Association > WELLINGTON, April 27.

The Marine Department representative on the Search and Rescue Organisation (Captain H. Ruegg) said today no yacht had been reported.

Earlier a lone yachtsman had been reported as battling with a 30ft craft being blown out to sea off Castiepoint about 9 p.m. yesterday. The man’s plight was) reported by the local police and lighthouse keeper but there has been no further word of his whereabouts. The senior examiner of the Marine Department, Captain H. Boyack, said he had j received a telephone call in the late evening from the] wharf police on the yacht's: position. The police were acting on a communication received from the local constable. The yacht, described as having a white hull and red bottom appeared to be manned by one person who. in heading north, was being blown out to sea by a northwesterly wind of 40 knots. Captain Boyack said as soon as he received word from the police he telephoned the keeper at the Castlepoint lighthouse. The keeper said he was keeping in sight the yacht

which was being blown out toj I sea. A man at the wheel could be seen, but there were' no distress signals. i Communication between I I the lighthouse and yacht was (then attempted by semiphore 'but the keeper received no re- ■ sponse. The yacht, according to the keeper, was beating north up the coast. Captain Boyack then telephoned the Wellington Harbour Board's pilot station at j Beacon Hill in an effort to ! trace the vessel. He was told .it had not been seen coming | from Wellington. I The signalman there, howI ever, said it could have gone , through the heads without I lights.